by Rochelle Carty-BaumanLast summer, I went to an unforgettable, life-changing, mind-exploding, and eye-opening camp called, Youth Leadership Camp in Oregon. I am glad that I made that decision that I applied for Youth Leadership Camp. A few summers ago, I went to another camp, National Leadership Literacy Camp for two years. I
understood a bit what leadership meant, until I was at Youth Leadership Camp I now understood completely. Youth Leadership Camp was not only teaching how to be a leader, it had many activities such as Social Justice, Camp Bowl, Debate, Outdoor Living Skills, trips to other places, and guests’ speakers that impacted what we learnt from these activities. The campers had to discuss, think deeply and work together by different groups to answer the questions, or games. We had four different teams that stayed together until camp was ended, so we worked together and really close. We had our own spirit, ups and downs, and competition against other teams. Maybe you think Youth leadership camp is too far away from your home, and you will be homesick. You will not because Youth Leadership Camp’s schedule is very busy, fun, and mind challenging from early morning until nights- EVERYDAY. You meet sixty-three campers and staffs that you will live with for a month; you will socialize with your new friends every day. You will meet your friends and become lifelong friendship because you may see them at Rochester Institute of Technology, Gallaudet University, or other places. I honestly did not see any campers that wanted to go home early. I saw their faces they were happy and exhausted but were still going. I seized these days, because I learned many things and grabbed many opportunities. Last days of camp were the hardest having to leave your friends and staffs but you have to bring your new learning to your school, and community. When I am at my school, I already feel that I have responsibility to my school and friends that I care about. I take a stand to tell stop and change. My mind reminds me what I did at Youth Leadership Camp, so do the same here. By the way, you learn many things about social justice, outdoor living skills, and YOURSELF. You do not realize what you used to be, and then Youth Leadership Camp makes you realize your desire to change. It is a very good thing. They do not want to waste their money for that champion camp with the same old attitude or habit. I know that you do not want to waste your money, so do the change and have fun! Take my advice if you are thinking to apply at Youth Leadership Camp, you have to be a junior or senior, and start fundraising early from your school, school council, and other organizations because you may pay least when you have lots of donations. Youth Leadership Camp is very costly, but worth your time. Youth Leadership Camp is a life time experience, apply it! I do not regret it at all. http://www.nad.org/youth-leadership-programs/nad-youth-leadership-camp-ylc Rochelle Carty-Bauman |
by Sajiran NadarajahI, Sajiran Nadarajah, am currently grade 11 student at Ernest C. Drury Secondary School for the Deaf. I want to tell you about my experience at Youth Leadership Camp (YLC). It was amazing and inspiring camp! It changed my perspective about life. There are no words to describe how YLC impacts on my life. Before attending YLC, I was careless and disrespectful. My older sister went to YLC in summer 2010 and it changed her life. I didn’t understand how YLC changed people’s life. My older sister encouraged me to go YLC. I decided to go
for her sake. I went to YLC with Rochelle Carty-Bauman. This camp, YLC, is hosted by National Association for the Deaf (NAD). The first YLC established at the 44-acre Pine Lake Camp near Stroudsburg, Pennsylvanian in 1969. It is a sensational four-week summer camp program for deaf and hard of hearing high school student. This camp only selects 64 campers. YLC held a place in Stayton, Oregon. It provides campers to develop their ability scholarship, leadership, and citizenship qualities in nature environment. The campers have to be in grade 10 or 11 to apply. On the first day in YLC, I already wanted to go back home because I didn’t know everyone expect for Rochelle. I had never been fond of camps but I had no choice. I had to stay there for a month. I tried to make some new friends and it was difficult to make new friends because many of them already know each other through Deaf events in the United States. It was very hard for me to fit in people, but I achieved to feel comfortable around those people. It was challenging for me. YLC had a lot of activities to do. The activities are unique and fun to participate. I love their activities. There are 4 teams that stick together for a whole month. People in those four teams are very diverse. We all are required to work together and support each other, no matter what. We play against three teams when it comes to activities. After participating activities, we tend to socialize with others. It is very difficult to work with different people because everyone comes with different background. However, it is good experience for us. There also are important classes in YLC. We all are required to participate Leadership Developing Program (LDP), Social Justice (SJ), Daily Drum (DD), and Outdoor Living Skills (OLS). Leadership Developing Program (LDP) is a program that will help us to improve our ability to be a leader. It explains us how to be leader. Social Justice (SJ) is my favorite class to learn because it encourages everyone to be open-minded, and express their thoughts. Some stories are very touchy because some people went through the worst than I thought. It could be sexism, racism, audism and etc. Daily Drum (DD) is like newspaper but it is only for YLC campers. DD is only way that we know what is going on with this world because YLC does not allow cell phones They will take campers’ cell phones until the last day of YLC. Each team have different routines everyday. We also had to type a lot of blogs. There is a website for campers’ family or friends to read because campers can’t keep in touch with them. Snail mail is only one way for them to keep in touch with each other. It is our responsible to post on the website to keep update them. Outdoor Living Skills (OLS) is a fun class to learn because they teach us about outdoor and nature. There are actually many things to explain my stories at YLC. This camp is full of surprises. If you want to know what surprises YLC provide, you have to go there to see them for yourselves. I went YLC and I didn’t regret at all. I am disappointed that few Canadians do not have any motivation to go to YLC. YLC helps students to be successful and be a good leader. This camp is a lifetime experience. Sajiran Nadarajah |